What did Barron Trump say to Joe Biden at his dad’s inauguration? It sparked an online debate

During his father’s second inauguration, Barron Trump had a brief but noteworthy encounter with former President Joe Biden, which sparked interest on social media about the nature of their exchange.

The 18-year-old NYU student, along with his mother Melania Trump and older half-siblings, went to the 2025 inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Barron was spotted shaking hands with Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda following Donald Trump’s official oath of office for his second term. Many people were left wondering what was said during the encounter.

Baron Trump walking over to Joe Biden to shake his hand.
I judge a man by the character of his children.
pic.twitter.com/fgV4UojtLT

— The Honey Badger (@Nance726) January 20, 2025

The now-viral video gained additional intrigue when some viewers conjectured that Barron Trump might have been leaning toward Vice President Kamala Harris instead of whispering to former President Joe Biden.

The video has generated a lot of discussion on the internet, particularly after Barron was hailed as “a true gentleman” for shaking hands with both Biden and Harris. Social media users expressed their admiration for the 18-year-old’s maturity and poise, viewing the moment as a symbol of unity.

His mother, Melania Trump, was praised by many for raising him well. “That gesture, especially from someone so young, really impressed me. It was very sophisticated and grown-up to walk across the aisle and shake their hands. Well done, Barron,” a user wrote.

“Such a good young man,” someone else wrote. It says it all with that gesture. Congratulations, Melania.